"This is some of that Tyler Perry, Madea coon shit." Those were my exact words when I saw the trailer for Empire. Now, I have to eat those words because I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. Empire is bad, but it's deliciously bad. It's like junk food. You know it's bad, but it's so deliciously bad that you can't help but enjoy it. It's not that Empire does anything ground breaking but it does them so well, and black, so black, I know someone like every person in the show.The story of Empire is simple. Lucius is sick with ALS, and he's going to die. He wants to leave the company to one of his sons. Hakeem, Jamal or Andre. But, his wife Cookie used her $400,000 to start Empire and she wants her part as well now that she's out of prison. It's a simple story but, it's full of drama. In the boardroom and the streets and I somehow got suckered in.
Empire is a show centered around music, and the music is dope, except Hakeem, he's whack and everyone knows it, that's why Jamal writes his lyrics. The music in the show is all produced by Timbaland so you know it's good. It's also addictive because before you know it you'll be downloading songs and saving playlist on Spotify. One thing that makes it special is it isn't just actors singing songs. All of the actors that sing or rap are artist, except Terrence Howard. You want more Hakeem, google Yazz The Greatest. You want more Jamal, google Jussie Smollet (who signed a record deal based on Empire). Hell, I didn't even know Courtney Love could actually sing. I thought she was more known for being a drug addict instead of an artist. But, I'd be lying if I said she didn't get to me. By the way, she played a character who had become more famous for being a drug addict than a singer.
The characters are what really make Empire shine so I've went ahead and given my thoughts on the characters because I really hate some of them but it's not the actors fault, they're just characters that make you want to hate them, probably because they remind you of your family.
Lucius Lyon: He's a straight up bigot. He doesn't trust Andre because he married a white woman. He hates Jamal and threw him in the trash because he's gay. Everyone calls him out on favoring Hakeem but he and Hakeem are the only ones that don't see it. He's happy screwing over everyone. He's a manipulator. There's not a good thing you can say about him. I can't figure out what Lucius actually likes, because he doesn't really like Hakeem. He just really hates his other two sons.
Cookie: She wants what's hers and she's going to get it. I'm inclined to believe she deserves it. Lucius left her in prison without a visit, took her company to unseen heights and didn't even send a ride when she got out. Cookie got screwed and they're trying to play her. Cookie is a cold calculated woman but she does love her children unlike Lucius. Andre and Cookie relate because they're about making that money. Jamal and Cookie relate because when Lucius throws him in the trash she's there to pull him out. She tries to relate to Hakeem, but he's got some mommy issues.
Hakeem: The youngest son with some serious mother issues. He didn't know Cookie before she was arrested. So, he dates cougars and calls them mommy. He hangs around wanabee thugs and acts out to earn that ever important rapper cred. He's a little jackass. There's nothing redeemable here. But, he's most likely going to get the company because Lucius hates Andre and Jamal. He's not fond of Hakeem either but Hakeem doesn't date white women or other men.
Jamal: He's gay, it's not a big deal to anyone, they all know. They've met his boyfriend. Everyone knows, but he's still in the closet. Why? Because when he was a kid Lucius threw him in the trash can for wearing heels. Jamal is honestly the one in the family with the most talent. He writes and produces songs for Hakeem as well as his own music. You just feel for Jamal, he doesn't bother anyone but constantly gets screwed over, no pun intended.
Andre: He feels left out because he's the only one in the family with no musical talent. He doesn't sing or rap and he doesn't produce music like Cookie. However, he is the most business savvy out of everyone in the family. He's been lying to the police to cover Lucius' ass since he was 6 and even with that, he's constantly overlooked. It's not just on Andre not being musical. He's also bipolar. Some people know, some don't. It's handled nicely in the show because as long as he's on his meds everything is fine. When he's not, he starts thinking of suicide and having rage attacks. I feel for Andre. I really do.
Empire is a great show that does a lot of things okay. The one thing they do best is bringing issues in the black community to the table. They don't force it on you. They don't make Jamal being gay or Andre being bipolar the major points in the story but it does address homophobia and mental illness in the black community. It's a great show and I'm kind of upset I took so long to get on board the Empire ship.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
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